Landfall Dinner - Sydney ahead!

Looking forward to seeing Sydney Harbour Bridge. This picture was taken last year from Aurora.

Good Day Everyone,

Greetings from the Tasman Sea - there is a great air of excitement all around the ship as we eagerly await the sights of cruise into Sydney Harbour and this momentous occasion for Arcadia on her Inaugural Grand Voyage.

I enjoyed an excellent dinner last evening in Arcadian Rhodes as a guest of two very well known Grand Voyage passengers! There was an extra buzz around as Gary Rhodes was personally visiting all tables in Arcadian Rhodes to say hello and have a chat - this is something that Gary is very good at and our passengers love it. Gary's visit has run without a hitch, and we sold all his stock of books and Gary personally signed these for everyone who asked. I have just left the Bridge and I heard the Sydney Pilot Station on the Radio to say they are expecting us at 1730 for our Pilot and we are due alongside at around 1900 hours. This being a Friday the harbour will be busy and we are expecting a lot of 'Sydney Siders' to be at the viewing points to see us into port. Graham Howell will be doing a live commentary from the Crows Nest. Everyone will be able to enjoy an evening in port at their leisure in preparation for tomorrow when some will be going home and others will be joining. The 'transit passengers' will either be on our organised Shore Excursions or doing their own thing. How lovely this evening to be able to walk down the gangway and in less than 10 minutes be strolling around the Sydney Opera House - lots of trendy cafes and bars to relax in and 'people watch' and admire the huge white ship alongside her berth in Circular Quay with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background and ARCADIA lit up like a Christmas tree..........now that is a 'feel good' factor. Some people who have not cruised say it is now for the masses and not the same glamour as the 'old days'. I disagree; no one comes out to welcome an aircraft unless a Head of State is on board! There is still much glamour and romance to arriving by 'a big white liner' and especially on one that has received so much press in these Australian Waters as Arcadia, with a name so loved and revered in these parts. I did not realise just how significant the name ARCADIA was until now.

This morning we have a seniors Meeting for a final run over of events for the 30 hours we will be alongside in Sydney. After this we had a conference call with Anthony Fisk, Public Affairs Manager and Greg Dehn, Special Events and Project Manger with P&O Cruises Australia. Such variety in this job. Between all this I managed a walk around the passenger decks to feel the mood for the day and see many of my well known passengers and also to speak to some new faces! It is the passengers and the crew who keep me up to date with all that is going on here in Cruiser dale! Or should I say 'Home & Away'!!!!

I can feel the excitement in my bones that I felt back in 1984 when I landed in Sydney for the very first time - I could have kissed the ground. This was it - this is what I had set my heart on to get to Australia. Once in the taxi I was dropped at the Crest Hotel in Kings Cross - a very well known area of the city then.....I literally threw by suitcases in my room and got back into the taxi and said to the driver ' take me to the Opera House'. He did and it was then that I finally realised that dreams do come true and here I was in Sydney, Australia. What a sight - it is unique and nowhere else in the world has copied this view - awesome buildings in a beautiful natural harbour.

It is now 1345 hours and at 1315 I was speaking live to Chris Smith on Radio 2GB - so thanks for the privilege of speaking on your show Chris - which I understand is the biggest and best afternoon show! Great talking to you and I hope that many of your listeners will come down to the harbour and give us a big wave. The Queen Victoria is at this time alongside in Circular Quay and is due to sail at 1600 hours. We will get a good view of her as she leaves the Harbours and Arcadia will then edge her way in cutting through the Sapphire velvet waters and make her debut at the Opera! In all her finery and sparkling in the glory of it all. This is no ordinary GRAND VOYAGE this is a P&O CRUISES GRAND VOYAGE (wonder where I got that line from?).

Enjoy your day and remember you can keep up to date on Arcadia's Web cam.

http://www.pocruises.com/

http://www.bestblogsatsea.com/

Thanks to Mary K for the information below! Hope it is correct - knowing Mary it will be...

'Regarding the four Arcadia's, they were Arcadia built 1888 6603 grt Harland and Wolff, Belfast Arcadia built 1954 29,734 grt John Brown & Co. Glasgow Arcadia built 1989 63,524 grt Chantiers de l'AtlantiqueArcadia built 2005 Fincantieri in Marghera, near Venice, Italy. 82,972 grt. Its just sad that there is no longer a ship building industry to speak of in our two countries, when there were so many great liners built there in the past.'

Sailing in on a Friday Afternoon,

James.

Start by doing what is necessary, then what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

Francis of Assisi